Group rallies to save UK's Bray Film Studios

A campaign has been launched to oppose the potential demolition of the Bray Film Studios, which were set up in 1951 by British horror label Hammer Films.

Based just outside Windsor in the UK, the historic studios have played host to some of Hammer Films’ most iconic films including The Quatermass Xperiment, Dracula, and Plague of the Zombies, as well as other British films such as Alien and The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

The studios are now being threatened with demolition as a result of redevelopment plans to replace the site with private housing, but Belfast based film historian Robert Simpson has set up a “Save Bray Studios campaign” to help raise awareness of the threat to try and open a dialogue with the developers.

Simpson, who is making use of social networking sites to try and gain momentum for the cause, is encouraging interested parties to attend a public exhibition of the redevelopment plans, which is taking place at the studios on July 27.

He plans to put forward alternative proposals to the demolition, including the continued development for the studio, or the conversion of the studios into a museum/heritage site relating to the film industry and local area.

Subscribe to Screen International

Screen International is the essential resource for the international film industry. Subscribe now for monthly editions, awards season weeklies, access to the Screen International archive and supplements including Stars of Tomorrow and World of Locations.